trying to seize untapped sources of one of the most sought-after minerals coltan, also known as tantaliten essential material in smartphone production. after a few hours drive, we reach a ramshackle mining camp. two years ago these mines were certified conflict free. signs s everywhere appear to reinfoforce the claims, no rebe, no chihild labor, no pregnant women. but are these claims true? it took us weeks of negotiations to receive permission to film here at luwow, one of the biggest t coltan meses in the region between 2 and 5,000 laborers dig here every day. the coltanan-rich sand begins where the red-earth deposits end. landslides are frequent here. even so, hardly anyone wears safety helmets or boots. but at least the digging is now only done above ground, and not in the deep and dangerous shafts. workers here say things used to be much worse. each of these sacks weighs 50 kilos. the mixture of rocks, sand and minerals is shoveled into sluices, w where it's wawashedd sieved. eventually all that's left is what looks like sand spotted with tiny black specks. coltan, black gold. the mi